macrumors 6502a

I recently bought AppleCare for my iMac on Ebay. The seller did NOT send me the original Apple box for the contract.

6 days AFTER the PayPal protection for the auction expired - I received an email from Apple telling me that the Registration Number that I bought is null and void.
Unless, I also submit the serial number from the box or a paper receipt from an authorized reseller (see attachment in German).

The seller did not answer any of my email requests that I wrote.

Conclusion: Do not buy AppleCare on Ebay unless you also receive the Box...

macrumors 68020

I've bought 4 Applecare programs on ebay representing hundreds of $$$ in savings with no problem. 2 of them supplied the shrinkwrapped box, the other two emailed my the registration number. Everything worked fine in both cases.

thread startermacrumors 6502a

I've bought 4 Applecare programs on ebay representing hundreds of $$$ in savings with no problem. 2 of them supplied the shrinkwrapped box, the other two emailed my the registration number. Everything worked fine in both cases.

You have to be careful buying stuff on ebay. You got scammed.

/

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The seller had a 99,x% reliability rating + over 10,000 recommendations + has been recommended on this forum.

macrumors 68030

You can force the seller to respond by filing a complaint with Ebay, also file a complaint with Paypal also showing them the evidence and they will freeze his paypal account and assets until his responds.

macrumors newbie

I'm sorry you got scammed. But you can't just judge everyone else who also happened to sell their stuff on ebay base on one transaction ... it's just unfair to the remaining (large) percentage of ebayers.
And did you pay with a credit card or a bank account? the CC might offer some type of protection, doesn't hurt to call and ask them, since you already have all the documentations.

thread startermacrumors 6502a

You can force the seller to respond by filing a complaint with Ebay, also file a complaint with Paypal also showing them the evidence and they will freeze his paypal account and assets until his responds.

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I did this already (1 week ago). Tell you what - nothing happened.

I guess Ebay needs to maintain their profit and does not like kicking their Powerseller cash-cows.

I also gave feedback today to Apple about this. Hopefully they do not like to be ripped of by people like these...

macrumors 68030

I guess Ebay needs to maintain their profit and does not like kicking their Powerseller cash-cows.

I also gave feedback today to Apple about this. Hopefully they do not like to be ripped of by people like these...

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Write to paypal using the official complaints form you find on your profile, dont just email them or something, and they always respond within 24 hours, then you have the option to file a formal complaint.

If paypal refuse to do anything inform them your going to involve the police and watch them s**t bricks.

Also is your PayPal account linked to your credit card or directly to your bank account? Because if its your Credit Card then you will be protected.

macrumors Nehalem

I have never bought Apple Care from anywhere but eBay. There is actually a pending transaction between me and someone else here, which will represent the first time I'll buy off eBay. That said, sorry you were scammed but are you sure it's not an honest mistake?

macrumors 601

There is actually a pending transaction between me and someone else here, which will represent the first time I'll buy off eBay.

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So, you're saying you've just bought your first item off eBay and it's AppleCare from someone here? Seems like a confusing way of making that statement, as first it appears you have done many transactions on eBay (comforting the OP) only to say that the first transaction is still pending.

macrumors 68000

I also gave feedback today to Apple about this. Hopefully they do not like to be ripped of by people like these...

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Well, Apple probably doesn't care. They're not getting ripped off. They'd just tell you that you shouldn't buy discounted stuff off eBay. I'm sure Apple would much prefer you buy at full price directly from them.

macrumors Nehalem

So, you're saying you've just bought your first item off eBay and it's AppleCare from someone here? Seems like a confusing way of making that statement, as first it appears you have done many transactions on eBay (comforting the OP) only to say that the first transaction is still pending.

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Sorry let me break this down.
I have purchased apple care more than 4 times from eBay and never had an issue. Also note I am in a state where Apple Care can only be registered by calling Apple due to some tax deal.
The first time I ever considered purchasing apple care from some place other than eBay would be at this present moment.
The aforementioned transaction is pending, meaning it is incomplete and in process.
Therefore, one can conclude that I have purchased ALL apple care protection plans from eBay right up until the point I send the cash to the seller here for the Apple Care.

macrumors 6502

macrumors 601

Sorry let me break this down.
I have purchased apple care more than 4 times from eBay and never had an issue. Also note I am in a state where Apple Care can only be registered by calling Apple due to some tax deal.
The first time I ever considered purchasing apple care from some place other than eBay would be at this present moment.
The aforementioned transaction is pending, meaning it is incomplete and in process.
Therefore, one can conclude that I have purchased ALL apple care protection plans from eBay right up until the point I send the cash to the seller here for the Apple Care.

thread startermacrumors 6502a

Write to paypal using the official complaints form you find on your profile, dont just email them or something, and they always respond within 24 hours, then you have the option to file a formal complaint.

If paypal refuse to do anything inform them your going to involve the police and watch them s**t bricks.

Also is your PayPal account linked to your credit card or directly to your bank account? Because if its your Credit Card then you will be protected.

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I did this today. Filing an official complaint with PayPal amounted to nothing. I got a fairly standard reply:

1. That I was out of the 45 days complain period
2. And they do NOT make any exception to this rule (ever)
3. They have closed the complaint and filed it
4. I should study their safety-tips on their website

I might try the credit card route. However, buyer protection is traditionally much less common in Germany than it is in the US (you have to dispute your payments within 30 days), but it does not hurt to ask...

I really do not like to get the police involved. I am currently short on time and I guess this could take ages and lot's of paperwork...

I also checked my complain status with Ebay. It appears they simply closed the file, so I send them a new reminder...

Well, Apple probably doesn't care. They're not getting ripped off. They'd just tell you that you shouldn't buy discounted stuff off eBay. I'm sure Apple would much prefer you buy at full price directly from them.

Keep bugging PayPal.

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I think Apple should care.
Apple has not a very good track record with their electronic license schemes (iTunes cards, iPod supplies database,...).
Looking at my registration number I would say it is not something generated by crypto.

I have this gut feeling that somebody figured out how to generate Registration Numbers that the Apple registration website swallows and makes a fortune selling them cheap on Ebay.

Somehow I managed to be the one where it went not so smooth and Apple is asking back.

If my suspicion is true this means that Apple either has to honour a large number of support contracts for which it has received no payment, or it suddenly has a large pool of customers that are very angry when their contracts purchased on Ebay go up in smoke...

macrumors 6502

I'm wondering how long Apple has to claim that a registration is invalid? (I haven't looked on their website.) Seems like if you buy Applecare code (from ebay) then the day you receive it is Day 1.

You register it on Day 2. Then 50+ days pass and Apple emails you to say it is invalid? Seems like you should complain to Apple about not telling you sooner.

If you did not register until Day 44 and then Apple tells you a few days later that it is invalid, then you have less to complain about. It sucks since I would think Apple should know immediately from their database whether the registration code is valid or not. My guess is that someone else has used the same number.

I've only bought Applecare once and got the box at the store, but I'd be interested in knowing whether there are some published guidelines on timelines for registering with Apple.

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